Film: Naan Sigappu Manithan
Starring: Vishal, Lakshmi Menon, Sunder Ramu
Director: UTV Motion Pictures, Vishal Film Factory
Producer: Vishal
Banner: Thiru
Music: GV Prakash kumar
There are three clear positives in Naan Sigappu Manithan. They are Vishal’s excellent performance, GV Prakash’s music and Thiru’s overall packaging. Narcolepsy is the new premise of the story, which has been packaged with commercial elements.
The first half is interesting with the introduction of Indran (Vishal) and establishment of a boy suffering from Narcolepsy from childhood. It is a rare neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep and the hero falls asleep at any point of time when he experience any extreme form of excitement or emotion.
Indran has a diary in which he lists 10 specific desires in life which he wants to fulfil. He is aided by his friends (Jagan and Sundar Ramu) as he ventures forth to fulfil his life ambitions, egged on by his loving and caring mother (Saranya Ponvannan). Indran meets Meera (Lakshmi Menon) daughter of a rich business man (JP) and her curiosity in him slowly turn into love.
But her dad fears that Indran cannot lead a happy married life and will not be able to make him a grand-father. But the brave girl takes an extreme step to help her lover overcome his disorder. However fate intervenes cruelly as she is brutally gang raped in front of Indran who is on sleep-mode!
How the hero identifies the real culprits forms the rest of this revenge drama. The refreshing chemistry between Vishal and Lakshmi Menon catches your attention in the first half. Jagan has perfect comedy timing and his amazing ability to crack jokes with a straight face is commendable, while Saranya’s mother-sentiments and humour is perfect entertainment. Lakshmi is given a make-over as a city girl and she excels with her expressive eyes and body language.
While the first half of the film is crisp with some light funny moments the rape scene and the disturbing flashback in the second half is hard to digest. Sundar Ramu can’t emote and he is a miscast in an important role. If you thought that the much publicised lip-lock and under water scenes are the highlights you are mistaken, as there are more shocks waiting for you in the film.
NSM belongs to Vishal. He is in top form and gives a warm, sincere and mature performance, probably his career best. As a narcolepsy patient falling on the ground, asleep and agonising moments in the climax he nails the character with plenty of heartfelt emotions. And important point is that Vishal plays it right without punchlines or heroism and wins us over.
GV Prakash’s music and BGM is another highlight of the film. The pick of the lot is Yelelo… song. Richard M Nathan’s camera especially night effect and top angle shots add to the mood of the film. Ruben’s fast cut editing enhances the film.
Thiru is able to make an engrossing actor driven entertainer without any super hero gimmicks. NSM is an gripping entertainer which is not run-of-the-mill.